From smart phones to social media, online job boards to electronic applications, the job search process has changed significantly as a result of Technology. But has it had a positive or negative impact? Is technology making us complacent as job seekers? How can you use technology to your advantage when going through the job search process?
Remember the days when you had to buy the newspaper and trawl through the employment vacancies section? When you printed your resume and covering letter and posted it to the company you were applying to or you hand delivered it. When you picked up the telephone and had a conversation with the hiring manager to see how your application was progressing.
Instead, today’s job seekers are taking advantage of technology:
- Position description requests are made by email or text message at any hour of the day or night
- Applications are submitted for vacancies with one click of the “apply now” button
- Applications are submitted from pre-saved and uploaded resume templates that are linked to your online job board profile’s
- Job vacancy alerts are delivered right to you through email and text message notifications
- Requests for updates and feedback on your application are made via email
I couldn’t agree more that Technology has positively impacted the job search process however, I do think that some job seekers take the use of technology to the extreme, that it makes them complacent and is impacting their success at winning that job.
How? Here’s what I think demonstrates complacency as a job seeker:
You email or text to request a position description
Yes it’s easier, quicker and you’re busy right? You can’t leave much of an impression with the hiring manager by requesting a PD in this manner. Invest the time in making a 5 or 10 minute phone call, request the PD, ask some intelligent questions and use the opportunity to highlight your skills and expertise. Leave the hiring manager waiting and looking out for your application to arrive in their inbox.
You simply hit the apply now button
Months ago you invested the time in creating a profile with an online job board, you’ve uploaded a resume and generic covering letter. You get job alerts delivered to your inbox and all you have to do is hit apply now. Generic job applications are a waste of time, you might as well not even bother submitting an application. Why? Check out my recent blog: It’s a competition and you’re not winning – a case study for a reality check on generic applications.
You rely on job opportunities to land in your lap
If your job search equals waiting for email or text message notifications, then you are missing a large piece of the job vacancy pie. Pick up the phone and talk to recruiters and hiring managers, directly approach companies that have the type of job you are seeking, use your networks and referrals (word of mouth is powerful).
You don’t return my calls and try to solely communicate with me via text or email
Never, ever in my time as a recruiter will I fill a vacancy with someone who can’t pick up the phone and have a conversation with me. Why are job seekers hiding behind text messages and email? More and more often I will try and contact candidates as I have shortlisted their application. I’ll leave a message or two asking them to return my call as I have some questions regarding their application or I would like to arrange a time for an initial phone interview. Basically I want to talk to you! Not returning my call and trying to have this conversation with me via text or email because you don’t have the time to talk on the phone is not going to help your application progress to the next stage of the recruitment process. And no you can’t text me and simply be booked straight in for an interview because you are busy and have work commitments and can’t talk on the phone.
What happened to the human touch, the personal element of being a job seeker and wanting to make an effort to land your dream job? When so much of the recruitment process and selection of the right candidate is about cultural fit and skills and abilities wouldn’t you want to be showcasing what you have to offer? You simply can’t do that by hiding behind an email or text message.
